Top 10 Things To Do In Lyon

Top 10 Things To Do In Lyon

Very rarely do you come across a city that is a shared capital. Lyon is capital to both the Rhône département and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in east-central France. Paris and Marseille are the two largest cities in France followed by Lyon.

Lyon is located on the east-central part of France, right at the convergence of rivers Rhône and Saône. Away from Paris, Lyon is the most important educational center that is rich in culture, which you will see as you devour the city.

Lyon tells a story of renaissance that ushered economic prosperity and intellectual genius. The city opened up and really began flourishing in 1464 when commercial fairs were established and Italian merchant bankers arrived. From silk and rayon manufacturing to printing, construction and food industries, Lyon truly boasts a diversified economy.

Lyon is a melting pot of sorts when it comes to what it offers for a visit- in addition to its industries whose processes may interest you, you will find an array of museums, theaters and festivals. Here’s a selection of top 10 things to do in Lyon.

Place des Terreaux

Place des Terreaux- by Nasreddine Nas’h- Wikimedia Commons

This magnificent pedestrian square is strategically placed and you can see and do a couple of things within the time you spend at the square. Place des Terreaux is located at the foot of La Croix – Rousse Hill and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While at the square you could visit the numerous stores, restaurants and cafes, Hotel de Ville which borders the square, Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon; a gallery and on the north side buildings and the slopes of La Croix-Rousse. There is just so much going on at one spot!

A center of attraction at the Place des Terreaux is a fountain with an exquisite statue of a central female figure representing France with four horses pulling her chariot, representing France’s four main rivers. 69 jet fountains spurt out of the ground to complete the show-stopping fountain.

Nothing dims the light of this square with a dark history- Place des Terreaux was once the site of public executions famous in old France! Place des Terreaux would be a good introduction to the top 10 things to do in Lyon– you will be able to see a lot at one stop that acquaints you to Lyonnaise ways.

Abbey of Saint Martin d’ Ainay

Basilique Saint Martin d’Ainay- by Phinou- Wikimedia Commons

Be ready to gather a lot of history as you visit Abbey of Saint Martin d’Aina church. This is the only 11th-century Romanesque church in Lyon. It served as a granary for fodder during the French revolution but suffered damage during the religious wars- by early 19^th century the church was in a horrible state but was restored.

Being inside this church takes you through various eras as it holds architectural elements such as Roman columns, pre-Romanesque, Gothic, Romanesque-Revival and a 19th-century painting by Hippolyte Flandrin in the church apse.

Louis XIII and his minister Richelieu, and Louis XIV stayed at the Abbey several times. You can request to see the specific rooms during your visit.

Cathedral of our Lady of Fourviere

Altar of Notre Dame de Fourvière- by Dennis Jarvis- Wikimedia Commons

The Cathedral of our lady of Fourviere is the embodiment of beauty in a building. The church is elaborately decorated, and stunning works of art adorn its walls. The signature glass stained windows of catholic churches are brilliantly done. The mosaics, frescos and gilded statues add to her beauty, together with an imposing six wall mosaic of Mary throughout history.  Ceiling murals show Mary with the figures from the Holy Trinity.

You will note that the church décor shows reverence to Mary- the size and design of it actually represented the thanks of the people and the power of faith in Mary hence “Our Lady of Fourviere”.  The backstory is that there was a plague which spread across Europe in 1643 but Lyon remained unaffected! This was perceived to be a sign that the city had God’s favor and pilgrims began visiting Lyon and the chapel. Similarly, Lyon was safe during the 1870 Franco- Prussian war. The safety was attributed to the blessing of our Lady hence the Mary- focused décor.

The cathedral is also part of a UNESCO site; it was built on the site of the Roman Forum and a Roman temple.  Right next to the Basilica is the museum of Fourviere which you can visit right after, for a look at Christian heritage and a view of historical religious items.

Parc de la Tête d’Or

Take a moment and relax at Parc de la Tête d’Or during your visit to Lyon. This large park that covers about 117 hectares includes a lake and many recreational activities.

Parc de la Tête d’Or is ideal for both the young and old. If travelling with children, a visit to this park is a winner. Activities here include pony riding, a mini train which travels around the park, pedal cars, playgrounds, mini karts, carrousel and an historic carousel. You could also take rowing boats, pedal boats or motor boats out onto the lake

Bring back mementoes from your Lyon trip from the souvenir store in the park.

Musée des Beaux-Arts

Palais Longchamp- by Vicuna R- Wikimedia Commons

One of the largest museums of fine art in Europe. From its structure to its expansive content, Musée des Beaux-Arts is such an amazing way to experience Lyon hence absolutely one of the top 10 things to do in Lyon. This is a huge museum that displays its collection in 70 rooms that make up the 17^th century Abbey building.

From antiquity to contemporary art, the museum visit will have you collect vast knowledge on many subjects. The museum has sculptures, ancient Egyptian art and artefacts, Byzantine ivories, enamels, Art Nouveau, Islamic Art, ceramics from the Far East and stoneware from China, Japan and Korea. It also holds a graphic arts collection with works from many a great artist such as Delacroix, Degas, Matisse, Ingres and Filippino Lippi.

The museum boasts the second largest coin collection in France with approximately 50,000 coins, medals and seals.

As this is a lot of information and sections to get through, the audio and physical guides available will take you through the 13 highlights of the museum. Your visit to this museum will be worth the time spent.

Le Theatre Antique de Lyon

Le Theatre Antique de Vienne- by Otourly- Wikimedia Commons

This ancient Roman theatre which is the oldest in France is located on the hillside of Fourviere. The Roman – Gaul city of Lugunum stood here from 43BC to the 2^nd century AD. This theatre was so well done that it still hosts the Nuits de Fourviere Festival in June and July once a year. The seating is still intact with displays of the foundation of the stage and the floor décor. Though smaller, the odium or Odeon’s rich decoration with its floors’ inlaid marble and porphyry designs are still intact. You will be able to go through ancient history as you go through the theatre.

Le Theatre Antique de Lyon stands alongside the Gallo Roman Museum which you should visit next.

Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière

Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière- by Alorange- Wikimedia Commons

The Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière was definitely not all in a days’ work! It is fascinating that this museum was dug deep from the hillside of Fourviere and is partly underground, with two huge windows overlooking its neighbouring Amphitheatre and Odeon (Le Theatre Antique de Lyon). This museum shall take you on a journey through ancient civilization.

At the Gallo—Roman Museum you shall be able to see polychrome mosaics, the sarcophagus of the triumph of Bacchus, the unique Gallic Coligny calendar, a rare circus mosaic, Tabla Claudiana, replicating a speech by the emperor Claudius just to mention but a few elements. You’ll take this in while relishing the avant-garde architecture that is truly magical.

Institut Lumière

Institut Lumière- by Matt Neale- Wikimedia Commons

The Lumière brothers are otherwise referred to as the fathers of movie-making. Their works and inventions such as the cinematograph changed entertainment forever. The Institut Lumière pays homage to the Lumière brothers and their work. What you will see includes many of their movies and inventions that propelled the entertainment industry.

Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse

Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse- by Arnaud 25- Wikimedia Commons

Foodie or not, a visit to Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse is one of the top ten things to do in Lyon. This indoor food market will give you a first- hand taste of French cuisine- the best food merchants in charcuterie, cheese, meat, vegetable and fruit are all found here, as well as restaurants.

Start your morning at this food market to make the best out of your visit, and perhaps settle down for lunch as you mingle with the locals who come here for lunch. Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse is internationally famed for offering the very finest gourmet food.

Presqu’île

Presqu’île stretches from the largest pedestrian square in Europe, Place Bellecour, to Place des Terreaux, which is bordered by the Hôtel de Ville and the Musée des Beaux-arts (Fine Arts Museum). Presqu’île is a busy section of Lyon- here you can visit theatres, cultural venues and restaurants, or go shopping. An evening spent here will allow you to see the liveliness of Lyon Presqu’île simply comes alive.

The top 10 things to do in Lyon take you from architecture, fine art, history, dining and so much more- a fine mash-up of the historical and the modern. There won’t be a dull moment during your visit to Lyon.